Police patrols 'too little too late' for tragic Simon

POLICE have launched an investigation into claims they did not respond strongly enough to complaints of gangs of youths running wild in the area where delivery driver Simon San was killed by a teenage thug.

• Simon San

The probe comes as increased patrols on Lochend's streets were called "too little, too late" for Mr San's family.

Mr San's killer, 16-year-old John Reid, was sentenced to five years detention at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday after he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

That jail term has also been criticised for failing to send out a "strong message" to other young troublemakers.

Following the sentence, Mr San's family said they had lodged an official complaint against the police revealing they frequently phoned to alert officers to youths targeting Mr San and others at their Chinese takeaway before his death on August 11.

His relatives said the 40-year-old "might still be here" if officers had responded faster to their pleas to tackle the tearaways.

A police spokesman confirmed the internal inquiry had been launched into the handling of the complaints from Lochend.

He said: "From the outset, the force carried out an intensive investigation and it was a priority to identify whoever was responsible for the violent unprovoked attack.

"Our thoughts are with Mr San's family as we know nothing will ever compensate for his loss.

"Lothian and Borders Police are aware of comments from Mr San's family. A complaint has been received by the force and a senior officer has been appointed to investigate. We will deal directly with the family to address the issues they have raised. It would be inappropriate to comment further while this is in progress."

Mr San had been the victim of a previous attack which led to him being hospitalised earlier this year. His 20-year-old nephew was also assaulted by five youths outside the takeaway at Christmas while the shop's front window was smashed by teens during the same period.

Officers have stepped up patrols to deal with youth disorder in the wake of the killing, but Peter Swanson, landlord of the Loch Inn, next to the Chinese takeaway, said he had "given up" on calling police.

Yesterday, the court heard that undercover officers were patrolling the area on the night Mr San was killed following complaints of antisocial behaviour, and saw a group of youths gathered near the Loch Inn.

But Mr Swanson said the police had done little to crack down on youth problems before the attack.

He added: "After Simon was killed, two community beat officers came into the pub to speak to us. They said they would be doing extra patrols in the area. I've run this pub for three years and that's the first time we've seen those kind of patrols. It's obviously a late response to what happened to Simon but it's too little too late.

"I'm 100 per cent behind Simon's family lodging a complaint about the police. You would call them about trouble and they'd show up two hours later, if at all. The only time you saw police on the streets was when there was a match at Easter Road."

Mr Swanson said that antisocial behaviour was continuing in the area around the Yong Hua Garden takeaway.

He added: "The youngsters are still getting hold of alcohol, usually from off-licences in the area. They are still gathering in the park across from where Simon was killed. The police were calling in at these off-licences on Tuesday night again but it's not stopping the problem.

"In terms of violence, it's quietened down since his death but these large groups are still intimidating for some people."

Teenager Reid was sentenced after admitting the attack on Vietnamese-born Mr San along with a group of youths beside his Chinese takeaway in Lochend Road after first rocking his Smart car.

As Mr San called police on his mobile, he fell back after a single punch from Reid and struck his head on the pavement. Surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary could not save him and Mr San died the following day from a fractured skull and internal bleeding.

Local councillor Ewan Aitken said a lack of resources, including available places at secured accommodation in the Capital, had left agencies struggling to cope with youth problems before Mr San's death.

He said: "There were issues involving lower-level but deeply destructive youth disorder in the area where Simon was killed before his death. There was a hardcore group causing the majority of the trouble and drawing others into it.

"I think there were barriers to breaking this problem which were not the result of the police response, but from different agencies not having the resources to work together. The antisocial behaviour unit, police and social workers were all involved, but weren't able to remove the troublemakers, some of whom were under 16.

"The resources are limited and the means to deal with youths outwith the criminal justice system are not there.

"I understand the San family asking hard questions and I will support them in doing so. There is a higher police presence now, but there are ongoing issues which relate to the same young people."

Fellow councillor Stefan Tymkewycz added: "I'm disappointed at only five years for the tragic loss of someone's life. I would've preferred a long sentence to reflect that loss and send out a stronger message. I wasn't aware of a rise in calls in that area, but I welcome a police inquiry."

Sentencing Reid, of Ferry Road Drive, Lord Matthews said Mr San was a "hard working and much-loved son". He said his only crime was to have been "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

The court heard how Mr San was the youngest of six, and had obtained British citizenship after the family moved to Edinburgh when he was 12.

Outside the court yesterday, the San family's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said: "The San family will never stop grieving for the loss of Simon.

"Nothing will ever make up for Simon being taken, but today cannot be described as justice. We believe that had the police acted the first time that we requested help that Simon might still be here today."

'At the weekend, it can get really bad'

LOCAL residents terrorised by gangs have calls for more police on Lochend streets.

Mother-of-one Samantha Graham, 33, said: "There's a lot of youngsters hanging about in this area, outside the shops and sometimes near The Loch Inn. I have had young lads in my front garden smoking cannabis and had to chase them away. There's lots of them hanging about drinking. It does get quite lively at the weekends and in fact because of it all I'm planning to move away."

Jeanette Leask, 40, a mother-of-three said: "There are certain kids that live in the area that cause havoc and hang about being cheeky. To be honest I don't think there is a big enough police presence sometimes and I think they should increase the amount of police on the streets here."

Michael Pace, 54, who has worked in Lochend Road area for more than six years said: "I think (the atmosphere] is OK but I'm not here 24/7. I don't often see many gangs roaming about but there is a bit of a problem with kids hanging about behind the shops on Lochend Road South."

Lisa Wind, 29, a local resident of eight years, said: "You go to the shops and youngsters hanging about outside are just so cheeky. They just give you abuse."